Create Dynamic Lighting Using Custom Brushes in Photoshop
First up, you'll need to download and install the new Rays of Light free brush set.
Step 1
I found this image of a skater by Robert Bejil Photography. I removed the skater from the background using Quick Mask Mode (Q). You can use whatever selection and extraction methods you prefer. I then copied and pasted the skater onto an 800x800 pixel document with a background set to #101010.
I then ran a High Pass Filter (Filter | Other | High Pass ) with a Radius around 15 to give the figure a slight HDR look.
Step 2
On a layer behind the skater I applied one of the wider light ray brushes at a diagonal. Note: You can adjust the angle of a brush using the adjustment arrow below. It's found on the Brush Panel. (Window | Brush)
I used a medium gray for the color when applying this brush.
Next up, on a layer above the skater, I applied another light ray brush. This time I used white as the color, and I adjusted the angle to match that of the background brush.
To punch up the glowing effect of the foreground light rays, I applied an Outer Glow layer style to that brushes layer. I used the following settings.
Step 3
With a soft black brush I applied some shadows on a layer behind the skater.
Finally...
I added a Gradient Map adjustment layer above all other layers. The adjustment layer's blend mode is set to Overlay. I used the following gradient.
Note: This is one of the defaults in the gradient editor.
Below is my final image. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration for using our latest free brush set.
More from Tutorials
Three Ways to Create a Handmade Look in Illustrator
Tutorialsby Diego Sanchez
Creating a handmade aesthetic from an existing design can add a sense of charm and individuality to your works, making them ideal for use in logos, emblems, product packaging, and illustrations. This style helps convey a more personal and crafted feel, which is perfect for projects that need to stand out. In Illustrator, you can easily replicate this effect in many different ways, but today I will show you three simple yet effective methods to achieve a hand-drawn look using the Brush Tool, Wrinkle Tool, and Blur Effects and these simple techniques will help you add organic textures, uneven edges, and a natural flow to your creations.
Read more
Easily Create Text Blocks in Illustrator
Tutorialsby Diego Sanchez
When you need to make text blocks in Illustrator, there are many ways to do it, from selecting each line of text individually and setting the proper font size, to using paragraph text and adjusting sizes and spacing. However, if you want to create a text block in less than a minute—which is especially useful for quote posters—you can use an automated method to do it quickly and effortlessly. Today, I’ll show you how to make a text block in Illustrator in a matter of seconds by using a single script, saving you time and enhancing your creative workflow. This method is perfect for experimenting with different typefaces and achieving unique results.
Read more
How to Easily Turn any Font into a Sketch Font in Illustrator
Tutorialsby Diego Sanchez
If you want to add a hand-drawn, artistic touch to your typography, turning your chosen font into a sketch-style font is a fantastic way to create eye-catching designs for posters, logos, or custom illustrations. Whether you're aiming for a rough pencil sketch look or a more refined line drawing, this effect adds creative flair to your text. Today, I’ll show you how to create this effect quickly and easily with any font using Illustrator's Appearance Panel. In just a few simple steps, you can completely transform your font style while keeping the text fully editable—making future tweaks a breeze!
Read more
How to Make a Heavy Grain Copy Effect in Photoshop
Tutorialsby Diego Sanchez
Photocopied effects are very popular these days, mostly used to give a design a grungy and weathered look. You may have seen this effect on flyers, posters, and even social media posts to promote different events. There are many different ways to create this effect, but today I will show you one of the simplest methods to make a heavy grain copy effect in Photoshop using the Filter Gallery, a Blur effect, and just one simple texture to make this effect look complete.
Read more